Recording means for weighing machines



Sept. 10, 1940. DE BROUCKERE 2,214,720

RECORDING MEANS FOR WEIGHING MACHINES Tiled March 28, 1958 aSheets-Sheet 1 p 1 1940- DE BROUCKERE 2,214,720

RECORDINGMEANS FOR WEIGHI NG MACHINES Filed March 2s,' 1958 3Sheets-Sheet 2 P 1940- L. DE BROUCKERE 2,214,720

RECORDING MEANS FDR WEIGHING MACHINES Filed March 28, 1938 3Sheets-Sheet 3 Hal: .1!

Patented Sept. 10, 1940 2,214,120 auconnmc MEANS roa WEIGHING Y MACHINESLeon de Brouckere, Brussels, Belgium Application March 28, 1938, SerialNo. 198,573

. In Germany June 29, 1937 7 Claims.

The invention relates to apparatus for transmitting" the weightindications of a weighing scale to an indicating and/or recording orprinting apparatus, of the kind having a measuring element which hasholes, slots or the like numeral-representing means and whichisrelatively adjustable with reference to feelers (mentioned below) inaccordance with the indication of the weighing scale, and feelersadapted to investigate said numeral-representing means and to control,in accordance with the investigation, means for transmitting to theindicating and/or recording or printing apparatus the appropriate highernumerical values of the weight indication.

In such apparatus with so-called electrlcal transmission of thehighernumerical values of the weight indication, for example, in a weighingscale with kilogr'amme divisions; the transmission of the tens and themultiples thereof presents no substantial difficulties but it isotherwise with the lower numerical values or the weight indication, forexample, the units. Here the holed part of the measuring element, suchas a so-ca-lled transmitting disc adjusted by an indicating controlshaft, would be too small for the holes corresponding to the differentunit 'numbers and the co-operating feelers to be applied. Therefore, forthe registration of unit numbers, it has been arranged that the weightindication of the weighing apparatus exceeding the, complete tens numberis measured by a measuring feeler, which may be a pawl, co-operatingwith teeth on the transmitting disc, the

movement of the measuring feeler being' transmitted electricallyto theindicating, registering or printing apparatus. For this purpose, themovement of the measuring feeler is transmitted through a worm wheel anda worm shaft, the worm shaft at the same time driving a torque currentgenerator connected by corresponding conductors with a synchronous motorbuilt in the indicating, registering or printing apparatus. This motor,in turn, drives through a worm gear, the parts of the apparatus to befurther controlledor adjusted.

This lcnown apparatus is comparatively expensive; further, it isunreliable and it is also not applicable for all cases.

The present invention solves the problem of transmitting the smallernumerical values of the weight indication to the indicating, recordingor printing apparatus, by the use, in a new way, of a measuring Ieeler(known per s'e') for the smaller numbers.

The object of. the invention is to eflect the movable parts in operativeconnection with the PATENT OFFICE transmission of the indications of thesmaller numerical values in the same way as those of the largernumerical values. a

In accordance with this invention the weighing apparatus ischaracterised by a main measuring 5 element and an auxiliary measuringelement which latter is provided with holes, slots or the like numeralrepresenting means and by feelers. adapted toinvestigate said numeralrepresenting means and to control in accordance with the in- 10vestigation the movements for transmitting the lower numerical weightvalues to the indicating and/or recording or printing apparatus, and bymeans for limiting the movement of the auxiliary measuring elementcorrespondingly to the 16 amount by which the value given by the mainmeasuring element diifers from the actual weight 7 of the article orsubstance being weighed.

The limiting means aforesaid comprises abutments, for example teeth, onthe main measurg0 ing element and a relatively movable measuring feeler(for example a pawl) which is carried by auxiliary measuring element.

The new apparatus is particularlydistinguished 25 from known apparati bygreater simplicity and cheapness of construction, and by greaterreliability in the transmission of the smaller weight values.

In order that the invention may be clearly un- 30 derstood we havehereunto appended drawings which show a weighing scale provided withelectrical transmission means this being given merely by way of example.

In the example of weighing apparatus shown 35 in the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevation from the rear of the weighing apparatus of theparts essential to the invention.

Fig. 2 is a'horizontal section on the line 11-11 40' in Fig. 1.

i Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line III-III of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an elevation of the so-called transmitting disc drawn as adiagram to an enlarged 4 scale compared with the other figures.

Figs. 5 and 6 show a detail, namely a and a switch in side view and insection.

In Figs. 7 and 8 there is shown a specially advantageous example of theapplication of control apparatus in conjunction with the newtransmitting apparatus on the weighing scale to a printing device.

Fig. '7 is a diagrammatic illustration in which 55 feeler each other.

all parts are shown in one plane and Fig. 8 is a section on the linesX-X, Fig. '7.

On the indicator shaft (not shown) of the weighing scale, for example aknown pendulum weighing scale, there is a circular disc I of soft iron,which is the so-called transmitting disc. This is provided with severalrows of holes 2 arranged in concentric circles, the holes in thedifferent rows corresponding to different numerical values. In thedrawings, it being assumed that the weighing scale has a capacity of onethousand kilogrammes, eight circular rows of holes are indicated (onlypart shown at Fig. 4) by way of example. Two rows of feelers 3 arrangedradially of the disc co-operate with the apertured disc l and when theyare moved against the disc their points d either encounter apertured orunapertured part of the disc 1. A small electric switch, which isnormally closed, is connected with each feeler 3.

As shown by way of example in Figs. 5 and 6, the switches may eachconsist of two leaf springs 98 provided with contact projections, theprojection normally being pressed against At the free end of thesomewhat longer leaf spring lies a bolt 3 perpendicularly guided withreference to the transmitting disc,

l and which constitutes the feeler. The end of the bolt 3 next to thedisc I is of smaller diameter and thus constitutes a thinpoint 4suitable for engaging in the holes 2. The feeler 3 is pressed forward bythe leaf spring until its shoulder engages on the guide for the thinbolt end l.

If a.feeler engages with its end 4 on an unapertured part of the disc I,it is held back and therefore the switch connected therewith is opened(Fig. 5). holes remain undisturbed so that their switches remain closed(Fig. 6). The apparatus for moving the feelers against the transmittingdisc I will be described later. Conductors 5 lead from the feelers 3 tothe recording or printing apparatus which is electrically controlledfrom the weighing scale and lead, for example, to controlmagnets'arranged in these apparati, which magnets control the addingdiscs, type wheels or similar. elements of the recording or printingapparatus directly or indirectly through control rods or so-called keysin accordance with the numerical values of the holes with which thefeelers for the time being have engaged. The excitation of these magnetsis effected by closing a common switch 6 after the switches 90 have beenset so far as is necessary by the movement of the feelers 3 against thetransmitting disc I.

The apertured part of the transmitting disc and the feelers co-operatingtherewith serve to transmit the tens and hundreds of the load, for thetime being on the weighing scale, to the recording or printingapparatus.

The main transmitting disc is provided at its edge with one-sided,wedge-shaped teeth, that is, ratchet teeth or circular saw-like teeth I,the pitch of which is equal to an angular turning of the disc Icorresponding to a Weight of ten kilogrammes. With a weighing range of1000 kilogrammes the number of teeth is 1 of a thousand, that is 100. Ameasuring apparatus for the reading above a complete ten which mayhappen to occur co-operates with the teeth I of the transmitting disc.This measuring apparatus is as follows. (Jo-axial with the transmittingdisc I, a double armed lever. 9, it) of U-formed cross section isturnably mounted by means of journals Those feelers which encounterengaging in a bearing 3-, the lower part 9 of the double armed levercarrying a feeler in the form of a turnable pawl II suitable forengagement in the teeth of the transmitting disc. The lever 9, I isunder control of a spring I2 which tends to move it in the oppositedirection to the rotation of the transmitting disc I which occurs onweighing (that is, anti-clockwise in Fig. l). The pawl ii is loaded bymeans of a spring (not shown) which seeks to move it into engagementwith the teeth of the disc I. The double armed lever 9, ii) is normallyheld in the position of rest shown in Fig. l by a push rod I4 acted onat its one end by means of a cam disc l located on a control shaft I6,while the pawl II is normally held out of engagement with the teeth ofthe transmitting disc l, by a spring retracted double-armed lever I?operable by a lifting cam ill. On part rotation of the control shaft ISthe cam l0 first frees the pawl II and then the cam iii the double armedlever 9, ID with the result that the pawl ll engages in the interdentalspace of the transmitting disc I which happens to lie opposite and thenmoves as a result of the partial rotation of lever 9, II] by the springl2 .until it engages on the steep face of the neighbouring tooth. Thepartial rotation of the lever 9, I0 which corresponds to the reading ofthe scale above a full ten number is transmitted in magnified form to asecond or auxiliary, sector-shaped transmitting device I9. Thistransmitting device I9 is turnably mounted above the transmitting disc Iand has a projection which engages a projection 2I on the double armedlever 9, II). By means of this projection the sector is rotated againsta returning means, for example a counterweight .51, which tends toreturn it into the zero position or the position of rest, through anamount in clockwise direction corresponding to the rotation of the lever9, Ill. The auxiliary transmitting sector I9 is provided with severalrows of holes 22, similarly to the transmitting disc I, the holes in thedifferent rows representing different numerical values. The number ofrows of holes is smaller than in the transmitting disc I. There are, forexample, only four. Four feelers 23 similar to the feelers 3 co-operatewith the transmitting sector I9, and can be moved against the sector sothat in accordance with the position thereof one or several feelersenter the holes 22 and are not disturbed, while others engage on thedisc I9 and so prepare the small switches of the electric circuits whichthereafter can be closed by the already mentioned common switch 6.Further conductors lead from the feelers 23 to the recording or printingapparatus, that is, to the control magnets provided in this case.

The transmitting sector I9 and the feelers 23 arranged therewith serveto translate the unit numbers of the weight indicated by the weighingapparatus to the recording or printing apparatus so that with the aid ofthe apparatus described the weight can be communicated to the recordingor printing apparatus exact to one kilogramme.

The feelers co-operatlng with the transmitting disc I are fixed to aplate 24 which is carried by the arm 9 of the double-armed swinginglever 9, I0. Thus these feelers take part in the turning of the swinginglever 9, III which takes place on measuring that part of the weighingscale indication which exceeds a complete ten, the result being thatboth rows of feelers 3 are always adjusted exactly with reference tothose holes in the transmitting disc I which correspondto the nextlowest complete ten number of the weight indicated by the weighingscale. The plate 24 carrying the feelers 3 is so movably connected withthe lever 9, III that it can be moved transverse to the swinging planeof this lever and therefore vertically with reference to thetransmitting disc I. To this end the plate is attached at one end bypairs of leaf springs 25 (Figs. 1 and 3) whose other ends are attachedto the swinging lever 9, III. The spring of each pair of leaf springs 25located next to the transmitting disc I is of somewhat greater lengththan the spring located away from the transmitting disc. Both springs ofeach pair of leaf springs 25 are so arranged to each other that theyconstitute a parallel link guide (compare the leaf spring pairs 29carrying the other part in Fig. 2). The movement of the plate 24 withthe feelers '3 against the disc I is effected through a double armedlever 26 by a cam disc 21 on the control shaft I6.

During the feeling operation the transmitting disc I is securely heldagainst rotation. For this purpose there are provided two holdingmagnets 28 whose iron cores are each arranged with an end opposite thedisc I. The magnets 28 are attached to a fixed wall by means of leafspring pairs 29 which,'similarly to the leaf springs 25 carrying theplate 24 with the feelers 3, constitute parallel link guides, so thatthey can be moved against and away from the disc I. Before the feelingoperation on the transmitting disc they are guided to the latter(without exercising any appreciable pressure on the disc) and are thenenergised by closing a switch which is not shown and on being energisedthe magnets, in known manner, magnetically engage the disc. The movementof the magnets 28 against the disc I is permitted by the leaf springs 29carrying them. Their removal from the disc, on the switch being opened,is effected by the aid of two pull rods 38 which engage by means ofrollers 3| with a rod 33, guided with-parallel motion by two links 32and on which rod there are two cam projections 34. The cam rod 33is'under the influence of a spring (not shown) which tends to move ittowards the left and can be moved towards the right by a cam disc 36cooperating with a roller 35 on the right hand link 32. Normally the rod33 is in its right hand position so that the magnets 28 are away fromthe disc I. On 'the control shaft I6 commencing to rotate the cam disc36 frees the rod 33 which is moved towards the left and thereforepermits the movement of the magnets 28 against the disc I (Fig. 2). Y

. The feelers 23 co-oper'ating with the transmitting sector I9 aresimilarly attached to a plate 31 which similarly to the plate 24 iscarried by leaf spring pairs 38 constituting a parallel motion guide andwhich are attached to a fixed wall. Movement of the plate 31 with thefeelers 23 against the transmitting sector I9 is effected through adouble armed lever 39 by means of a cam disc 48 on the control shaft I6.In order to ensure correct operation of the feelers 23 with the sectorI9, the latter'has always to be adjusted exactly to a' unit divisionbefore the feeling operation. For this purpose the outer edge of thesector is provided with a number of teeth corresponding to the number ofdivisions.

Thus, for example, it is provided with teeth shown, and being normallyheld in withdrawn position by a spring retracted double armed lever 43operable by cam 44 on the control shaft I6. After the sector I9 has beenadjusted the pawl 42 is released by movement of the lever 43 by thecontrol cam 44 so that the pawl moves under its spring action into theinterdental space, of the sector I9, which happens to be opposite.Thereupon, by means of its pressure on the sloped rear face of theengaged tooth 4| the pawleffects a small movement of the sector untilthe steep face. of the neighbouring tooth engages with the pawl. Thusthe sector is so adjusted that the holes 22 of the sector I9 which areto be engaged lie ex-' actly beneath the feelers 23. The pawl 42 thenholds the sector firmlyin this position. As will be apparent theadjustment of the sector I9 is also equivalent to a simultaneousrounding off of the unit kilogrammes to a full number.

The control shaft I6 carries, besides the already mentioned cam discsand cams I5, I8, 21, 36, 44 and 48, still a further cam disc 45 foroperating the common switch 6 which closes the circuits set by'thefeelers 3 and 23 for controlling or adjusting the indicating, recordingor printing apparatus. A tooth sector 46 in the form of a bell cranklever is provided for driving the control shaft I6, a toothed wheel 41at the upper end of the shaft I6 engaging the toothed sector. Thetoothed sector 46 carries a roller 48 against which the armature 49 ofan'electromagnet 58 engages. The magnet 50 can be energised by a handswitch 5I which advantageously is formed as an automatic self-openingpress button switch. The armature 49 of the magnet 50 which then movesturns the sector 46 by its pressure on the roller so that the controlshaft I6 is turned. When the magnet is de-energised by the release ofthe switch 5| the toothed sector returns under the influence of a spring53 (which may be replaced by a weight) engaging on its laterallyprojecting arm 55 into its position of rest and thereby also rotatesthccontrol shaft I6 back to its initial position. In order to damp thecontrol movement an oil or air brake 52 can be provided.

The modus operandi of the apparatus is as follows:

After the weighing scale has operated and the transmitting disc I movedin accordance with the weight of the object being weighed has come torest, the magnet 50 is put into circuit by operation of the hand switch5I with the result that the armature 49 moves the control shaft I6 bypartial rotation. First, as a result of this rotation, the cam 38releases the holding magnets 28 which move towards the transmitting discI. At the same time the magnets 28 are energised by a switch, not shown,which-likewise can be controlled from the camvdisc 36, so that thetransmitting disc is locked in position. Then the cam I8 frees thefeeler pawl II and the cam disc anti-clockwise direction until the pawlII lies against the steep face of the neighbouring tooth. Thesector-shaped auxiliary transmitter I9 is moved by the rotation of theoscillating lever 9, III in accordance with the units of weight measuredby the pawl II. Then the cam 44 frees the pawl 42 which now enters theopposite interdental space of the'transrnitting sector I9 under theinfluence of its spring and corrects and holds the sector. when this hasoccurred the plate 24 with the feelers 3 and the plate 31 with thefeelers 23 are pressed against the transmitting disc I and the oppositesector I9 by means of levers 26 and 39 by means of the two cam discs 21and 4!] with the result that the feelers investigate the parts of bothtransmitters which were moved opposite them and operate thecorresponding switchs connected therewith, and thus, for example, opencertain of them while others remain closed. In this way the electricalcircuits for operating or setting the recording or printing apparatusare prepared in accordance with the weight weighed by the weighingapparatus and indicated by the transmitting disc I and transmittingsector I9. Now the common switch 6 is closed by the cam disc 45 throughwhich switch the total control current for the recording or printingapparatus passes. Thus the control circuits are closed so that theoperation or setting of the recording or printing apparatus to theactual weight indicated by the weighing apparatus takes place. When theoperation or the setting is completed the magnet 50 is de-energised andthe control shaft I6 then turns back to its initial position whereuponall the parts moved and controlled by this shaft likewise return totheir initial or rest position.

The example shown can, of course, be structurally altered in many ways,thus the control of the switches connected with the feelers 3 and 23 maybe such that normally open switches are closed by the movement of thefeelers against the transmitting disc I and the transmitting sector l9.Further the common switch 6 can be obviated if the switches connectedwith the feelers 3 and 23 directly close the control circuits instead ofmerely setting them. The teeth 4| on the transmitting sector I9 insteadof being.

wedge shaped on one side may be of double wedge shape. The guiding ofthe holding magnets 28 and the plates 24 and 31 carrying the feelers 3and 23 can be effected by any other suitable means in place of thelink-like leaf springs. The control shaft I6 could be rotated in anothermanner, for example by hand, instead of by a push magnet.

The apparatus controlled by the new arrangement electrically from theweighing apparatus can, if desired, be a registering or addingapparatus, a printing apparatus and, in certain cases,

also an indicating apparatus located apart from the Weighing apparatus.

In Fig. 7 the numerals 3 denote the eight feelers which have alreadybeendescribed with reference to Figs. 1 to 6 and which co-operate withthe transmitting disc I and the numerals 23 likewise denote the fourfeelers already described with reference to Figs. 1 to 6 whichco-operate with the transmitting sector l9. 6 is the common switchoperated by the cam disc 45 on the control shaft I 6 and which closessimultaneously the control circuits set by the feelers 23 and 3.

As already mentioned the transmitting disc I (Fig. 4) has eight circularrows of holes 2. Of these rows of holes and the co-operating feelers 3,four rows, that is the four inner rows, serve for transmitting the tensorder of the weight indica tion while the four outer rows serve fortransmitting the hundreds order of the weight indication. As alsoalready mentioned the transmitting sector I9 has four rows of holeswhich serve in conjunction with four feelers 23 for transmitting theunit numbers of the weight indication. Thus, for each weight digit thereare-provided four rows of holes and four feelers. The holes of each rowof holes and the corresponding feelers have a definite numerical value.The proportion of these values to each other is equal, in the units, thetens and the hundreds. Thus the first row of holes for the units havethe value 1, the second row the value 2, the third row the value 3 andthe fourth row the value 6.. Similarly the values in the rows for thetens are 10, 20, 30 and and in the rows for the hundreds are 100, 200,300 and 600 (see the numerals applied to the rows of holes at theright-hand side of Fig. 4) The numerical values of the holes in the partof the transmitting disc I and the transmitting sector -I.9 about to beinvestigated add together to give ;-the' units, tens and hundredsindicated by the of the numerical values of these holes, that is,

feelers (namely the number 860) is transmitted to the printingapparatus. The same is the case with the transmitting disc I9. If a holein the third row (numerical value 3) is located at the investigatingposition, then the switch of the third feeler remains closed and theunit numeral 3 is transmitted which together with the above mentionednumerals on the transmitting disc I gives the total sum of 863kilogrammes.

The feeling switches 3 and 23 are connected by the electrical conductors5 each with an electrical push magnet SI, 92, 93, 94 or 9Ia,' 92a, 93aand 94a or 9Ib, 92b, 93b, 94b provided on the printing apparatus Thesemagnets are, like the feelers, arranged in three groups each consistingof four magnets, and each magnet in the group has a definite numericalvalue which corresponds to the numerical value of the row of holes withwhich the feeler connected to it pertains. Thus the magnets 9|, 92,93and 94 in the uppermost group in Fig. '7 have the numerical values 1, 2,3 and 6, the corresponding magnets in the middle group have thenumerical values 10, 20, 30 and 60 and finally in. the lowermost grouphave the numerical values 100, 200, 300 and 600. Each group of magnetsserves to set a definite type wheel 95, 95a, 95b for printing the weightindicated by the weighing apparatus. For the purpose of clearness, thethree type wheels of the pertaining magnets are shown spaced from eachother in, Fig. 7. In practice the three type wheels 95, 95a, 95b arelocated beside each other on one axis so that the adjusted type thereoncan be printed in the form of a compound number on a card or the like.correspondingly the three groups of magnets are in practice arrangeddirectly beside each other. The drives which on actuation of theelectro-magnets adjust the type wheels are formed as triple differentialdrives. They are the same in all three magnet groups so that it issufficient to describe one of these drives fortexample that of themagnet group for the uni s.

Each magnet 9| 92, 93, 9| has a vertical guided iron core or armature 96which is drawn upwards on excitation of the magnet I but which isusually held in the lower position by a retracting spring 91. At theupper end of each magnet core 96, there is attached a verticl rack 3|,99, Illfl and IIII. The magnet cores and the racks of all four magnetshave the same stroke which is accurately limited by projections notshown. The racks 98, 99 of the two magnets 9I and 92 corresponding tothe numerical values 1 and 2 engage at opposite sides of a wheel I02provided with two toothed curves of difierent radii (the wheel I02 canalso be called a double armed lever). The said wheel is mounted on avertically movably guided rack I 03. The radius of curvature of thetoothed curve of the toothed wheel I02 engaging with the rack 90 isdouble the radius of curvature of the curve engaging with the rack 99.The rack I03 carrying the wheel I02 engages on one side in a secondwheelI04 (or lever) provided with two toothed curves, which is mounted on avertically movably guided rack I05. On the other side of this wheelengages the rack I of the electro-magnet 93. Both toothed curves of thewheel I04 have the same radius of curvature.

The rack I carrying the wheel I04 engages in turn at one side of a wheelI06 (or lever) having two toothed curves which is mounted on a rack I01.On the other side the rack IOI of electromagnet 94 engages with thiswheel. The radii of curvature of both toothed curves of the wheel I05are equal. The rack I01 carrying the wheel I06 engages with a pinion I08which is fixed to the type wheel 95 so that the latter shares therotation of the pinion I08. 1

If all four electro-magnets 9l-94 are energised at once and thus allfour racks 98-|0I of the magnets raised simultaneously, the following occurs. Both racks 98, 99 lift the wheel I02 without rotating it,whereupon the rack I03 carrying the .Wheel is moved upwards the fullstroke of the magnets (the length of this stroke is denoted by L). Asthe rack I00 of magnet 93 is simultaneously moved upwards the wheel I04is raised by the two racks I03 and I00 without being rotated so that therack I 05 carrying the wheel I04 is also moved upwards through thestroke L. This rack and the simultaneously upwardly moved rack III! ofmagnet 94 finally raise the wheel I06 (again without rotation) so thatthe rack I01 is also raised through the stroke L. This rack thereuponrotates the type wheel 95 through an angle corresponding to the fullstroke L which is denoted by a. This angle of rotation a corresponds toa rotation of the type wheel through 12 divisions or spaces. In practiceall four electromagnets 9I94 are never energized at once. Theexplanation of simultaneous actuation of all four magnets is only tohelp understanding of the following cases which occur in practice.

Ii" the electro-magnet 94 only is energized as when the number '6 is tobe transmitted from the weighing apparatus to the type wheel, then onlythe rack IOI moves upwards with the result that wheel I06 by rolling thestationary rack I05 is rotated. The rack I01 carrying the wheel is, onaccount of the equal lengths of the lever arms of the wheel I06, movedthrough the half stroke of the rack IOI, that is, upwards through astroke It thus rotates the type wheel through the angle movement only ofthe rack I00 the following takes place; the rack I00 rotates the wheelI04 7 which rolls on the stationary rack I03, whereupon, on account ofthe equal radii of both toothed curves, the rack I05 is moved throughthe stroke L The toothed rod I01 thus rotates the type wheel 95 throughthe angle that isQthrough three divisions, so that the number 3 is setup.

On excitation of magnet 92 and upward movement only of the rack 99 thefollowing takes place; the rod 99 rotates the wheel I02 which rolls onthe rack 98, whereupon, owing to the ratio 3:2 given by this wheel, therack I 03 carrying the wheel I02 is moved upwards an amount which isequal to The rack I03 rotates the wheel I04 which rolls on the rod I00so that the upward movement of the rod I03, reduced by a half, istransmitted to a the rack I05 which is thus moved upwards by theConsequently the type wheel is turned through the angle that is, throughtwo divisions and the number 2 I is thus set up.

If the magnet 9| is energised and only'the rack 98 moved upwards thenthe latter rotates the wheel I02 rolling on the rack 99 with the resultthat, on account of the present transmission ratio of 3:1, the rack I03ismoved upwards through the stroke 1 This movement of the rod I03 is inthe manner described above transmitted through the wheel I04, rack I05and wheel I06 reduced twice by half, to the rack I01 which thus executesa stroke of 12 The type wheel 95 is therefore rotated through the angleI i that is through one division so that the numeral 1 is set up.

With simultaneous excitation of several magnets (in practice nc mallyonly the simultaneous excitation of two magnets of the same group comesinto consideration) the angular rotations of the type wheel arising outof the upwards movements of the racks of the excited magnets are addedtogether. Thus with simultaneous excitation of magnets 9! and 93 thenumber 4 is set up by type wheel 95, by excitation of the magnets 92 and93 the number 5, by simultaneous excitation of the magnets 9! and 94 thenumer '7, by excitation of the magnets 92 and 9% the number 8 and byexcitationof the magnets 93 and 94 the number 9. Thus by excitation of acorresponding single magnet or two magnets together giving the desirednumerical value all numbers from 1 to 9 can be set up.

The method of operation of the differential drives in both other groupsof magnets 13 and C is exactly the same as above described. The onlydifference is that the numbers on the type wheels 95a and 9512 are tentimes or a hundred times greater than the value of the number set up onthe type wheel 95, because these two wheels represent the tens andhundreds.

If the weighing scale indicates, as already mentioned in explaining thesignificance of the rows of hols on the transmitting disc I and thetransmitting sector IS, a weight of 863 kilogrammes then oninvestigation of the tran mitting disc I and the transmitting sector 19by the feelers 3 and 23 and on the thereupon occurring closing of thecommon switch 6, the following magnets will be energised. In thehundreds group the magnets 94b and 92?) corresponding to the numericalvalues 600 and 200., in the tens group the magnet 94a corresponding tothe numerical value (ill, and in the unit group the magnet 93corresponding to the numerical value 3. Correspondingly, on the typewheel 95b for the hundreds, the printing numeral 8 will be set up, onthe printing wheel 95a for the tens, the printing numeral 6 will be setup and finally the printing numeral 3 on the type wheel 95 for theunits, so that the entire number 863 is set up at the printing position.The printing of the type set up on to a register strip, a weighing cardor the like may be eifected in any known way, for example, by pressingthe paper strip or the card with an interposed colour band or the likeby means of a movable pressing plate against the type. When the printingapparatus has operated the circuit of the electro-magnet 50 driving thecontrol shaft [6 (Fig. 1) may be opened so that the control shaft Itreturns to it's initial position. Thereupon all control circuits areagain opened by the common switch 6. The magnets in the printingapparatus are all de-energised with the result that the displaced magnetcores 96 return to the lower terminal position under the influence oftheir retracting springs. Theytake the racks 98|Bl with them which, inturn, retract the transmission levers I02, I04, I06 and the racks I03, Iand finally also the rack l0! into their initial position, so that thetype wheels 95, 95a, 95b are all returned together to zero.

The apparatus described with reference to Figs. '7 and 8 can also beused when the apparatus which is electrically controlled from theweighing apparatus is not a printing apparatus but merely an indicatingapparatus. In this case the wheels or discs 95, 95a, 95b rotated by theracks llll are indicating discs provided with simple numerals.

As is apparent the apparatus according to Figs. 7 and 8 has theadvantage that for the transmission of a weight unit occurring in eachof ten difierent numbers, only four control circuits and consequentlyonly four feeler switches on the weighing scale and four push magnets onthe printing, indicating or adding apparatus are necessary. Further thedifferential drive which serves to transmit the thrust of theelectromagnet with a transmission ratio corresponding to the numericalvalue of the magnets on to the racks for the type wheels or the like iscomparatively simple and it operates exactly and reliably.

Throughout the specification I have referred to indicating and/orrecording or printing apparatus but in the annexed claims I have used inlieu thereof the term exhibiting apparatus as being a generic termcovering indicating, recording or printing apparatus generally.

What I claim is:

1. In a weighing machine giving weight indications including units andmultiples thereof, apparatus for electrically transmitting the multiplesto an exhibiting apparatus comprising an angularly movable measuringelement connected to the weighing mechanism, spacedmultiple-representing means on said element, a plurality of feelers forinvestigating said means and mounted on a movable carrier, movableelectro-magnetic means for engaging and holding said element inposition, electrical exhibiting apparatus-operating circuits controlledby said feelers and teeth on the measuring element spaced apart adistance corresponding to the lowest multiple of units, an angularlymovable auxiliary measuring element, spaced unit-representing meansthereon, a plurality of feelers for investigating said a last mentionedmeans and mounted on a movable carrier, a pivoted lever, a measuringpawl on said lever adapted to engage said teeth, and an abutment on saidlever engaging said auxiliary measuring element so as to transmit themovement of the measuring pawl in magnified form to said auxiliarymeasuring element, teeth on said lastmentioned element and pawl meansfor engaging said teeth to correct the position of said auxiliarymeasuring element, a common switch for all said circuits and commoncontrol means for causing said electro-magnetic means to engage themeasuringelement, for causing the lever to move until the measuring pawlengages a tooth on the measuring element, moving the carriers to causethe feelers to investigate the multiple and unit-representing means,causing the pawl means to engage the teeth on said auxiliary measuringelement and correct the position of same and causing closure of saidcommon switch.

2. An apparatus for transmitting the indications of a weighing machineto an exhibiting apparatus, the transmitting apparatus comprising a mainmeasuring element for numerals of higher order, said element beingmovable in a weight-responsive manner and provided withnumeral-representing means, feelers to investigate said means and inaccordance with the investigation to control movements for exhibitingnumerals of higher order, abutments on said main measuring elementspaced apart by distances each representing the unit numeral of higherorder, a movable structure supporting said feelers, a detent movablewith said structure and engageable with said abutments. an auxiliarymeasuring element for numerals of lower order and provided with numeralrepresenting means, feelers to investigate said latter means and inaccordance with the investigation to control movements for exhibitingnumerals of I lower higher order differs from the actual weight of thecommodity being weighed.

3. An apparatus for transmitting the indications of a weighing machineto an exhibiting apa main measuring element for numerals of higherorder, said element being. movable in a weightresponsive manner andprovided with numeralrepresenting means, feelers to investigate saidmeans and inaccordance with the investigation to control movements forexhibiting numerals of higher order, abutments on said main measuringelement spaced apart by distances each representing the unit numeral ofhigher order, a movable structure supporting said feelers, a detentmovable with said structure and engageable with said abutments, anauxiliary measuring element for numerals of lower order and providedwith numeral representing means, feelers to investigate said lattermeans and in accordance with the investigation to control movements forexhibiting numeralsof lower order, a mechanical and magnifyingmovement-transmitting connection, allowing lost motion, between saidmovable structure and said auxiliary measuring element, resilient meansresisting said lost motion, means for moving said movable structure asallowed by said spaced abutments and said detent, whereby a movement istransmitted to the auxiliary measuring element which is representativeof the amount by which the exhibited numerals of higher order differsfrom the actual weight of the commodity being weighed, and means to movesaid auxiliary element independently of said main measuring element byvirtue of the allowance of lost motion, and abutment means to limit suchindependent movement to the amount by which the movement transmittedfrom the main measuring elementdifi'ers from the representation of awhole ,number of units of lower order.

4. An apparatus for transmittingthe indications of a weighing machine toan exhibiting apparatus, the transmitting apparatus comprising amain'measuring element for numerals of higher order, said element beingmovable in a weightresponsive manner and provided with numeralrepresenting means, feelers to investigate said means and in accordancewith the investigation to control movements for exhibiting numerals ofhigher order, a lock for the main measuring .element, abutments on saidmain measuring element spaced-apart by distances each representing theunit numeral ofhigher order, a lever supporting said feelers, a detenton said lever engageable with said abutments, an auxiliary measuringelement for numerals of lower order constituted by a pivotal structureprovided with numeral representing means towards the periphery of saidstructure and with a movement transmitting connection directly withsaidlever towards the pivot of said structure, feelers to investigate saidlatter numeral-representing means and in accordance with theinvestigation to control movements for exhibiting numerals of lowerorder, and means for moving said lever as allowed by said spacedabutments and said detent, whereby a movement is transmitted to theauxiliary measuring element which is representative of the amount bywhich the exhibited numerals of higher order differs from the actualweight of the commodity being weighed.

5. An apparatus for transmitting the indications of a. weighing machineto an exhibiting apparatus, the transmitting apparatus comprising a mainmeasuring element for numerals of high- 1 er order, the element beingconstituted as a disc movable in a weight-responsive manner and beingprovided with numeral representing means, feelers to investigate saidmeans and in accordance with the investigation to control movements forexhibiting numerals of higher order, a lock for said disc, peripheralteeth on said disc spaced apart by distances each corresponding to theunit numeral of higher order, a leverhaving a fulcrum co-axial with thedisc and supporting said feelers, a measuring pawl on said lever on oneside of the fulcrum, .and engageable with said teeth, an auxiliarymeasuring element for numerals of lower order constituted by a pivotalstructure overlapping said disc but having its pivot without'theperiphery of said disc and said pivotal structure havingnumeral-representing means towards its periphery and a-movementtransmitting connection allowing lost motion and directly connected withsaid lever on the other side of the levers fulcrum, resilient meansresisting such lost motion, feelers to investigate the latter said.numerahrepresenting means and in accordance with the investigationcontrol movements for exhibiting numerals of lower order, means formoving said lever as allowed by said teeth and said measuring pawlwhereby a movement is transmitted to the auxiliary meas er order differfrom the actual weight of the commodity being weighed, means to movesaid auxiliary measuring element independently of said main measuringelement by virtue of the allowance of lost-motion, and abutment means tolimit said independent movement to the amount by which the movementtransmitted from the main measuring element differs from therepresentation of a whole number of units of lower order. I

6. An apparatus for transmitting the indications of a weighing machineto an exhibiting apparatus, the transmitting apparatus comprising a mainmeasuring element for numerals of higher order, said element beingmovable in a weight-responsivev manner and provided withnumeral-representing means, a feeler device to investigate said meansand in accordance with the investigation to control movements forexorder, a mechanical movement-transmitting connection, allowing lostmotion, between said movable structure and said auxiliary measuringelement, resilient means resisting said lost motion, means for movingsaid movable structure as allower by said spaced abutments and saiddetent, whereby a movement is transmitted to the auxiliary measuringelement which is representative of the amount by which the exhibitednumerals of higher order difiers from the actual weight of the commoditybeing weighed, means to move said auxiliary measuring elementindependently of said main measuring element by virtue of the allowanceof lost motion, and abutment means to limit such independent movement tothe amount by which the movement transmitted from the main measuringelement differs from the representation of a whole number of units oflower order.

'7. An apparatus for transmitting the indications of a weighing machineto an exhibiting apparatus, the transmitting apparatus comprising a mainmeasuring element for numerals of higher order, the element beingconstituted as a disc movable in a weight-responsive manner and beingprovided with numeral representing means, a feeler device to investigatesaid means and in accordance with the investigation to control 2,a14,7ao

movements for exhibiting numerals of higher order, a lock for said disc,peripheral teeth on said disc spaced apart by distances eachcorresponding to the unit numeral of higher order, a lever having afulcrum co-axial with the disc and supporting said feelers, a measuringpawl on said lever on one side of said fulcrum and engageable with saidteeth, an auxiliary measuring element for numerals of lower orderconstituted by a pivotal structure overlapping said disc but having itspivot without the periphery of said disc and said pivotal structurehaving numeralrepresenting means towards its periphery and a movementtransmitting connection directly with said lever on the other side ofthe levers fulcrum, a feeler device to investigate the latter saidnumeral-representing means and in accordance with the investigationcontrol movements for exhibiting numerals of lower order and means formoving said lever as allowed by said teeth and said measuring pawlwhereby a movement is transmitted to the auxiliary measuring elementwhich is representative of the amount by which the exhibited numerals ofhigher order differ from the actual weight of the commodity beingweighed. a

LE'oN DE BROUCKERE.

